Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
8 the Father. 2 him in his anger. All men are invited to this grace, of what condition soever they are, they may all come, whether they be Turks, Jews, Heathen, Christians, or what name soever they are called by, none are excluded ; all that are weary and heavy laden may corne to Christ, he will receive them and refresh them all, as himself saith. And whosoever teacheth, or saith otherwise, or seeketh any otherCh. 25] CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION 707 way, is the Antichrist, and entereth not by the true door into the sheepfold. Amen.
65. And now if we consider the scornings, despisings, and mocking of Christ, and that all was done by the instigation of the great ones ; and that commonly they were the poor simple people that followed him, except some few that were wealthy; we then clearly find that which Christ said, That a rich man will hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. This is not meant concerning their riches, but concerning their vainglorious, proud, and covetous life, whereby they consume the sweat of the needy in pride, and forget God. 0 how hard it is for one that is proud, to humble himself before God and man; and the kingdom of heaven consisteth only in the virtue and power of humility.
66. Yet it is seen that some wealthy people did draw near to Christ, whereby it may be perceived, that the kingdom of heaven consisteth not in misery only, but in joy in the Holy Ghost; and none ought to esteem himself happy, because he is poor and miserable ; he is in the kingdom of the devil nevertheless, if he be faithless and wicked. Also none that is rich ought therefore to cast his goods and wealth away, or give them to be spent lavishly, in hope to be saved in so doing ; no, friend, the kingdom of God consisteth in truth, in righteousness, and in love towards the needy ; to be rich damneth none that useth itp. 708 aright ; thou needest not to lay down thy sceptre, 1 Or solitary and run into a * corner, crying ; that is but reserved life, , . mi 1-1 in a cloister hypocrisy. Ihou mayest do righteousness, and or monastery, , . 11-1 p n i • -i i T or private " better service to the kingdom ot Uod in holding thy sceptre, by helping the oppressed, protecting the innocent, and granting right and justice, not according to thy covetousness, but in love, and in the fear of God ; and then thou art also a brother to Joseph of Arimathea, and shalt shine brighter than others, as the sun and moon compared with the stars. It is only the pride, covetousness, envy, falsehood, and anger, that is the crown of the devil ; therefore conceive it aright.
1 ifp
Of Christ's Rest in the Grave [or Sepulchre^.
67. We know that the body without the spirit is a thing that lieth still ; for though the body of Christ (which the holy element generated in the
"Barmhertz- 2 mercy) is from God, yet the mobility and life standeth only in the Deity ; and in us men in the spirit of the soul, and in the spirit of the great world, which are unseparated in this body upon earth.
68. Therefore now the question is, Where was the soul of Christ all the time that the body did rest in the grave? Beloved reason, do not like those that are blind concerning God, who say, the soul [of Christ] went away from the body down into hell into the earth, and during that time, in the divine power and virtue, assaulted the devilsCh. 25] CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION 709 in hell, and bound them with chains, and destroyed hell. 0, it is quite another thing. The saints' rising out of the graves at the hour of the death of Christ declareth otherwise.
69. Reason knoweth nothing at all of God ; and if it be not possible to attain further from the gift of God, do not descend down into the deep, but in singleness of heart stay l on the article ; it will not i rest conendanger thy happiness. God looketh only upon that which the will of the heart. Thou must not search so
8 the Father. 2 him in his anger. All men are invited to this grace, of what condition soever they are, they may all come, whether they be Turks, Jews, Heathen, Christians, or what name soever they are called by, none are excluded ; all that are weary and heavy laden may corne to Christ, he will receive them and refresh them all, as himself says. And whosoever teaches, or says otherwise, or seeks any other
Ch. 25] CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION 707 way, is the Antichrist, and enters not by the true door into the sheepfold. Amen.
65. And now if we consider the scornings, despisings, and mocking of Christ, and that all was done by the instigation of the great ones ; and that commonly they were the poor simple people that followed him, except some few that were wealthy; we then clearly find that which Christ said, That a rich man will hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. This is not meant concerning their riches, but concerning their vainglorious, proud, and covetous life, whereby they consume the sweat of the needy in pride, and forget God. 0 how hard it is for one that is proud, to humble himself before God and man; and the kingdom of heaven consists only in the virtue and power of humility.
66. Yet it is seen that some wealthy people did draw near to Christ, whereby it may be perceived, that the kingdom of heaven consists not in misery only, but in joy in the Holy Ghost; and none ought to esteem himself happy, because he is poor and miserable ; he is in the kingdom of the devil nevertheless, if he be faithless and wicked. Also none that is rich ought therefore to cast his goods and wealth away, or give them to be spent lavishly, in hope to be saved in so doing ; no, friend, the kingdom of God consists in truth, in righteousness, and in love towards the needy ; to be rich damns none that uses it
708 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 25 aright ; you needest not to lay down your sceptre, 1 Or solitary and run into a * corner, crying ; that is but reserved life, , . mi 1-1 in a cloister hypocrisy. Ihou may do righteousness, and or monastery, , . 11-1 p n i • -i i T or private " better service to the kingdom ot Uod in holding your sceptre, by helping the oppressed, protecting the innocent, and granting right and justice, not according to your covetousness, but in love, and in the fear of God ; and then you are also a brother to Joseph of Arimathea, and shall shine brighter than others, as the sun and moon compared with the stars. It is only the pride, covetousness, envy, falsehood, and anger, that is the crown of the devil ; therefore conceive it aright.
1 ifp
Of Christ's Rest in the Grave [or Sepulchre^.
67. We know that the body without the spirit is a thing that lies still ; for though the body of Christ (which the holy element generated in the
"Barmhertz- 2 mercy) is from God, yet the mobility and life stands only in the Deity ; and in us men in the spirit of the soul, and in the spirit of the great world, which are unseparated in this body upon earth.
68. Therefore now the question is, Where was the soul of Christ all the time that the body did rest in the grave? Beloved reason, do not like those that are blind concerning God, who say, the soul [of Christ] went away from the body down into hell into the earth, and during that time, in the divine power and virtue, assaulted the devils
Ch. 25] CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION 709 in hell, and bound them with chains, and destroyed hell. 0, it is quite another thing. The saints' rising out of the graves at the hour of the death of Christ declares otherwise.
69. Reason knows nothing at all of God ; and if it be not possible to attain further from the gift of God, do not descend down into the deep, but in singleness of heart stay l on the article ; it will not i rest conendanger your happiness. God looks only upon that which the will of the heart. You must not search so